7-Eleven Inc. named 26 emerging brands to participate in its 2026 Brands with Heart showcase, an “initiative that celebrates innovation and the next generation of consumer products. Entering its seventh year, the program connects early-stage brands with new retail opportunities and offers the potential for expanded distribution across 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes locations throughout the United States,” the retailer said.
The 2026 participants were reportedly selected from a pool of more than 700 applicants. 7-Eleven said this year's cohort “reflects the company's continued focus on brands that offer clear differentiation and strong consumer appeal.”
During the showcase, held at the 7-Eleven Store Support Center in Irving, Texas, founders had the opportunity to have their products sampled, participated in one-on-one pitch meetings with category teams and engaged in educational discussions focused on merchandising strategy and scaling within convenience retail.
Following the showcase, select Brands with Heart participants will be invited to launch regional in-store tests beginning in the first half of the year, providing an opportunity to further evaluate performance and consumer response.
Some of the brands include:
"At 7-Eleven, we see emerging brands as a key driver of what's next in convenience retail," said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at 7-Eleven. "Programs like Brands with Heart allow us to partner with entrepreneurs who are rethinking products and business models in ways that resonate with today's customers."
The full list of brands can be viewed here.